28 March 2008

Local Authorities Fail to Recover Control of Garbage Dump

[Article taken from the Nicaragua Network Hotline]

Since the beginning of the month over one thousand informal workers who make a living from selling recyclable waste (metal, plastic and glass) dumped on Managua's municipal garbage dump "La Chureca" have blockaded the entrance in protest against the decreasing amount of valuable waste being deposited there. According to the protesting workers the more valuable waste is extracted by the garbage collectors who work for the local government before the trucks are unloaded at "La Chureca."

On Mar. 23 Managua Vice-Mayor Neri Leiva Orochena said that the local government planned to recover control of the municipal garbage dump "La Chureca" on Mar. 24 with help from the National Police if necessary. The local government was unable to take control of the site, however, because, according to Mayor Dionisio Marenco, the National Police were unwilling to accompany the local government officials. According to General Commissioner Horacio Rocha a judicial order would be necessary before the National Police were able to help the Mayor reopen the site. Marenco, who dismissed Rocha's explanation, said he did not understand why the National Police were unwilling to help.

Marenco has insisted it is impossible for the local government to guarantee the quality of the waste dumped on the site and has rejected the suggestion of increasing garbage collectors' salaries in return for their commitment not to extract certain types of waste. On Mar. 24 Marenco reiterated his position saying that if and when the proposal to increase garbage collectors' salaries is voted on by the local council he will vote against it. Marenco has also said that he is unwilling to negotiate with the informal workers from "La Chureca."

This proposal to increase the local authorities' garbage collectors' salaries was initially suggested by the National Workers' Front (FNT), which is affiliated with the FSLN, and represents the "Chureca" informal workers. FSLN City Councilman Edgardo Cuarezma put the issue on the local council agenda. The Managua City Council is made up of nine FSLN members and nine members from the three opposition parties. Marenco, who is also FSLN but had fallen out with Daniel Ortega over Marenco's political ambitions, also votes in local council decisions.

On Mar. 18 Health Minister Guillermo Gonzalez said that the local health authorities had not yet detected signs of an epidemic outbreak due to the accumulation of garbage, but he did urge a rapid resolution to the dispute in order to guarantee the health of the Managua population.

During the last week 1,200 workers hired by the city government used 180 garbage trucks to remove the more than 25,000 tons of garbage which has accumulated on Managua's streets over the last three weeks. The waste was successfully deposited in garbage dumps in Nindiri and Tipitapa despite threats by the protesting informal workers to also block the entrances to those two sites. This is a tragic conflict in which all sides are right and the only ultimate solution is to eliminate the need for people to survive by living and "mining" a toxic garbage dump.

26 March 2008

Dia de Leche

This morning we drove into Chureca for Milk Day. With the workers still on strike, we were one of the only vehicles allowed inside the dump. The clinic was already full when we showed up- most of our moms were listening to a health talk, some were meeting with nutritionists, and others were awaiting their consult with the doctor. Despite the number of people in the clinic, things were under control.

We were all worried that our kids' weights would drop significantly this month as a result of the strike and it's impact on individuals' ability to earn a living. Thankfully this has not been the case. Although the last three weeks have been extremely trying for La Chureca's residents, families have pulled together and done their best to ensure that their children are getting enough to eat. Organizations both inside and outside La Chureca have also stepped up their roles in order to assist residents through this particularly difficult period.

24 March 2008

!Huelga!

The Monday before Day of Light, Lori and I were driving two Vanderbilt professors to Chureca with plans of meeting with some donors, going on a tour and maybe grabbing some lunch. One stoplight from the dump, we got a call from the other truck saying that there was a strike and no one could enter. The trash collectors and truck drivers have been removing the "trash of quality" for some time, preventing Churequeos for scavenging for the best recyclables. The workers had had enough and decided to use their bodies and the trash itself to keep trucks from dumping.

We approached the entrance with caution, but the line of men readily opened in order for us to pass. Another group of people directed us around barriers of trash, saying that they knew us because we helped with the school (we corrected them and let them know it was the clinic). At the weigh stations, I saw the faces of many of our mothers, their faces smiling with recognition and hope in what they were doing.

The trucks could not pass, but the community of La Chureca trusted us, and let us through.

The strike is now rapidly approaching a month and it seems to be at a standstill. The alcalde, or local government, says it cannot prevent the drivers from skimming (or the creation of outside recycling programs) and the Churequeos are too determined to stop without that promise. Problem is: no trash, no money; no money, no food.

Opinions about the strike vary widely among people living and working in Chureca, but everyone knows that something big is about to happen. Maybe this will make some men with skills leave the dump and look for a job elsewhere. Maybe this will make a young mother reconsider going back to school. Maybe it will just make the people of Chureca more dependent on non-profit workers. I don't know, but I will be there to see it happen.

19 March 2008

Celebraciones

It has been over a month since my last post on this blog. Much has happened and I apologize for not keeping you thoroughly informed. Even though Erin and I continue to go into Chureca 3x a week, we have not had the time to sit down and write about all our visits. The month of March has been consumed by spring break volunteers. In the past three weeks Manna has hosted groups from Vanderbilt, Wooster State, UT Austin, UNCW, UGA, among others.



All of our groups have had the opportunity to visit La Chureca. The week that Vanderbilt and UNCW were here happened to be the week in which Brad Corrigan (the former drummer for Dispatch) hosted his annual concert in La Chureca. Dia de Luz, as the concert day is called, brought hundreds of American students into La Chureca. The purpose of Dia de Luz (Day of Light) is to raise awareness of the situation in La Chureca, encourage Americans to spend a day interacting with the men and women who live in the dump, and bring together Americans and Nicaraguans for a free concert.



Another celebration that happened in La Chureca, though on a much smaller scale, was the official re-opening of our clinic. As you may already know, the clinic underwent a big renovation in February. To celebrate the new facility Sandra (the director of FunjoFudes) invited all of the clinic's financial supporters, the clinic's staff, community leaders, and Manna's Program Directors to a ribbon cutting ceremony. During the event representatives from the Nice Foundation, Austin Samaritan, Manna Project International and the Ministry of Health gave short speeches.

All of the community members I have talked to are really happy about the improvements that were made to the clinic. One of the greatest benefits I have seen as a result of the renovation is the boost in the staff's morale. It's no easy task to work inside a dump everyday so having a facility that accommodates for the staff's needs is invaluable. Dr. Lesley, Esmo, and Yami now feel a sense of ownership toward the clinic. Dr. Lesley has his private consult room, Esmo has her nurse's station, and Yami has her pharmacy. There is also a consult room for the psychologist that comes in every Tuesday and Saturday and in about a week we will have a newly built dentist room.

I hope you now have a better idea of all that has happened in the past month! Expect more regular blog postings in the coming weeks!